Port City Church of Christ

12/04/2025

Sharing this news with a heavy heart and heart felt love for David Jr, Kathy, and the entire family.

Celebrate the life of David Naramore, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Radney Funeral Home - Saraland.

03/20/2025

You are welcome here. Sunday 8:30AM FREE coffee and donuts, 9AM classes for all ages, 10:00AM worship.

A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ON DEALING WITH TEMPTATION

Mind Management

NINE BIBLICAL WAYS TO DEAL WITH TEMPTATION


1. UNDERSTAND HOW TEMPTATION WORKS

Step #1 – A wrong desire inside me.

Genesis 3:3a [Eve to Satan] – “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of garden that we are not allowed to eat...God said . . . you will die.” (New Living)

Step #2 – Doubt God’s Word.

Genesis 3:1b [Satan] – “Did God really say...” (NIV)

Step #3 – Deception.

Genesis 3:4 [Satan] – “You won’t die . . . you will be like God.” (New Living)

Step #4 – Disobedience.

Genesis 3:6 – “When the woman saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye, she took some and ate. She also gave some to her husband and he ate it.” (NIV)

2. KNOW WHAT MAKES ME VULNERABLE TO SIN

Ephesians 4:27 – “Do not give the devil a foothold.” (NIV)

Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” (New Living)

General Non-Scientific Chart for Self-Evaluation
Physically Exhausted 0 1 2 3 4 Energetic / In Shape
Discouraged / Pessimistic 0 1 2 3 4 Encouraged / Optimistic
Bored / Discontented 0 1 2 3 4 Challenged / Contented
Spiritually Dry / Empty 0 1 2 3 4 Spiritually Growing
Lonely / Distant 0 1 2 3 4 Feel Loved / Close
Insecure / Unsure 0 1 2 3 4 Confident & Secure
Deeply Wounded / Hurt 0 1 2 3 4 Understood / Valued
Unforgiving of Certain People 0 1 2 3 4 Forgiven Everyone
Sad or Grieving a Loss 0 1 2 3 4 Feel Happy
Frustrated 0 1 2 3 4 Fulfilled & Productive
TOTAL:

35-40 very good emotional shape. 25-34 is vulnerable. 0-24, extreme danger of being vulnerable to temptation and sin. How long have you been at this number?

3. LEARN MY PATTERN OF TEMPTATION

Proverbs 14:8 – “The wise look ahead to see what is coming, but fools deceive themselves.” (New Living)

Five questions about temptation:

[1] WHEN am I most tempted?
[2] WHERE am I most tempted?
[3] WHO is with me when I’m most tempted?
[4] WHAT temporary benefit do I get if I give in?
[5] HOW do I feel right before I’m tempted?

Hebrews 11:25 [Moses] “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” (NIV)

4. PLAN TO AVOID TEMPTING SITUATIONS

Proverbs 4:26-27 – [26] “Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. [27] Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.” (Good News)

5. CRY OUT TO GOD & QUOTE SCRIPTURE!

Psalm 50:15a – “Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you...” (Good News)

Martin Luther (AD 1483-1546): “You can't keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

Psalm 119:11 – “I’ve banked on your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.” (Message)

6. REFOCUS MY ATTENTION ON SOMETHING ELSE

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” (NIV)

7. PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH

Hebrews 10:25 – “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more.” (NIV)

8. BE WILLING TO CONFESS YOUR TEMPTATIONS

James 5:16a – “Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (Living)

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a – [9] “Two people are better than one because together they have a good reward for their hard work. [10a] If one falls, the other can help his friend get up.” (Good News)

9. REMEMBER GOD IS ON MY SIDE

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” (New Living)

[1] Temptations are no different from what other experience.
[2] The Lord won’t let you be tempted beyond what you are able to handle.
[3 The Lord will show you a way out. It may be as easy as tuning and walking away.

Father, You know all the temptations that have tripped me up for years and You know all the problems I’m facing right now. I’m asking for Your help. I want to follow biblical principles so I can change and be free. Give me the ability to see the patterns in my life that lead to temptation. Help me recognize the emotions that make me vulnerable. Give me the strength to avoid situations that get me in trouble.

When I'm facing a spiritual emergency, help me to remember to cry out to You, to quote scripture to myself and refocus my attention. Remove the negative emotions that make me vulnerable and replace them with Your love and forgiveness. I ask You to start making these changes in me, from the inside out, beginning today. I want to follow You completely and I ask You not only to save me from eternal death but save me from myself. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

03/13/2025

THE POWER OF EMOTIONS:
HELPING OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (NIV)

Romans 12:15 – “Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.” (Message)

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT TEARS?

1. TEARS ARE GOD-GIVEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPRESSING EMOTIONS

*God was sorrowful and His was deeply broken in Genesis:

Genesis 6:6 – “The Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.” (New Living)

*Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus in John 11:35. Isaiah 53:3 says He was a man of sorrow.

*The Holy Spirit grieves:

Ephesians 4:30 – “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God...” (NIV)

There are many different kinds of tears: tears of grief, sadness, joy, frustration, disappointment, uncertainty, anger – TEARS ARE LIQUID EMOTIONS!

2. TEARS MAKE US HUMAN

Bruce’s reference: “Humans Are the Only Animals that Cry – and We Don’t Know Why” by Sophie Putka, discovermagazine.com. 8.19.2021.

3. TEARS ARE NORMAL AND HEALTHY

Ecclesiastes 3:4a – “There is a time to cry and a time to laugh...” (New Living)

Tears are healthy in four different ways: physically, emotionally, relationally and in communication.
Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (New American Standard Bible)

Sympathy says, “I’m sorry you hurt.”
Empathy says, “I’m hurting with you.”

John 11:36 – “The people who were standing nearby said, ‘See how much he loved him.’” (NIV)

4. GOD SAVES EVERY TEAR THAT FALLS

Psalm 56:8 – “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (New Living)

PRACTICAL STEPS WE CAN TAKE IN USING OUR
TEARS AND GRIEF TO HELP OTHERS

The story of Job from the book of Job. He lost all ten of his children and all of his possessions in one day and was struck with a disease. His friends came to visit him and although they were wrong about why he was suffering, they did get three things right:

1. DON’T WAIT: TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO CONNECT

Job 2:11 – “When Job's three friends...heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.” (NIV)

2. DON’T HOLD BACK: LET THEM SEE YOUR TEARS

Job 2:12 – “When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.” (NIV)


3. DON’T SPEAK: SHOW UP AND SHUT UP!

Job 2:13 – “Then Job’s friends sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how great his suffering was.” (NIV)

4. DON’T FORGET: ALL TEARS ARE TEMPORARY
The following verse from Isaiah is quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:54 and applied to the final resurrection at the second coming of Christ. We know this passage has an application to us beyond Isaiah’s original audience in 700 BC.

Isaiah 25:8 – “The Sovereign Lord will destroy death forever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone's eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The Lord himself has spoken.” (Good News)

Prayer:

Father, I want to be a person who empathizes and not just sympathizes with people. Help me understand that tears and emotions are a sign of love.

I know You have seen all of my tears and saved them in a bottle. You have kept track of all of my sorrows. I want to be a blessing to other people. I don’t want to wait when I see someone in pain, I want to take the initiative to connect and weep with those who weep.

I learnt from Job’s three friends that there is power in just being present. Help me realize that the greater the pain, the fewer the words I should use. When I get discouraged and I’m grieving, help me remember all pain is temporary. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

03/06/2025

FREE Donuts and Coffee at 8:30AM on Sundays followed by classes for all ages at 9AM and worship at 10AM. Come and join us!!

WHAT ABOUT UNANSWERED PRAYERS?
What The Bible Says About Prayer #5 of 5

Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (NIV)

SIX OBSERVATIONS ON PRAYER:

OBSERVATION #1 – God said “No” to a lot of outstanding people in the Bible.

OBSERVATION #2 – There are mysteries about prayer beyond human understanding.

OBSERVATION #3 – There will be things we pray for that will never happen.

OBSERVATION #4 – “No” is the greatest test of your faith.

OBSERVATION #5 – Knowing why something happened doesn’t make it easier.

OBSERVATION #6 – Some prayers don’t get answered immediately.

Jesus asked, “My God, My God why have you forsaken Me?” and never got an answer.

One of the greatest examples of unanswered prayer is Job in the book of Job!

UNDERSTANDING “NO” IN PRAYER:

1. GOD SAYS ‘NO’ WHEN HE HAS A BIGGER PERSPECTIVE

Hebrews 4:13 – “God knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done.” (Living)

2. GOD SAYS ‘NO’ WHEN HE HAS A BETTER PLAN

Isaiah 55:8-9b – [8] “This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! [9b] ...my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.” (Living)

Hebrews 11:39b-40 [Faith’s Hall of Fame] – [39b] “...none of them received what had been promised. [40] God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (NIV)

3. GOD SAYS ‘NO’ WHEN HE HAS A GREATER PURPOSE

Psalm 57:2 – “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.” (NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – [17] “For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! [18] So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” (New Living)

To be happy you need to know three realities:

Reality #1– There are some things you're not going to understand until you get to heaven.
Reality #2 – Some problems are never going to change until you get to heaven.
Reality #3 – Sometimes you suffer for the benefit of other people.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I KNOW GOD HAS SAID “NO?”

1. TRUST THAT GOD DOES EVERYTHING IN GOODNESS AND LOVE

Psalm 25:10a – “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful.” (NIV)

Three options when God says “No.”

[1] Resist it.
[2] Resent it.
[3] Relax.

2. WHEN IN PAIN, PRAY WHAT JESUS PRAYED WHEN FACING THE CROSS

Mark 14:35-36 – [35] “Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. [36] ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” (NIV)

Three things you should always do in prayer when in pain.

[1] Affirm God's power! “Father, everything is possible for you.”
[2] Ask with passion! “Take this cup [of suffering] from me!”
[3] Accept God's plan! “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

3. EXPECT GOD’S GRACE TO HANDLE HIS ANSWER

Grace is the Lord giving you the inner strength to live godly even when it’s painful.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 – [8] “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (NIV)

Job 13:15a – “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (King James Version)

Psalm 9:10 – “Those who know you, Lord, will trust you; you do not abandon anyone who comes to you.” (Good News)


Prayer:

Father, I want to know You on a deeper level. I want to trust You and feel Your love toward me. I want Your plan for my life, not mine. I want Your power in my life, not mine. I want Your pardon for all the things I've done wrong. I need Your peace and Your presence.

Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to suffer for me so payment could be made for all my sins. I want Your Spirit to fill my life and keep me on the journey of trusting You every day (continued next page).

Finally, one day, I ask You to take me home to heaven where all questions will be answered, all problems will be removed, and all pain will be replaced with Your joy. I look forward to that day. Help me to tell other people about this. In Jesus name. Amen.

02/06/2025

Please join us Sunday morning, Feb. 9th for the 1st in a new series on prayer. We have FREE coffee and donuts from 8:30AM-9:00AM followed by classes for all ages at 9:00AM with worship beginning at 10AM. You are welcome here!

“LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY”
Biblical Observations on Prayer #1

Luke 11:1 – “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’” (NIV)

THREE OBSERVATIONS ON PRAYER

OBSERVATION #1 – HUMAN BEINGS HAVE AN INBORN TENDENCY TO PRAY

Pew Research (10.24.2022) says 55% of adult Americans pray everyday, 16% weekly).

Ecclesiastes 3:11b – “He has also set eternity in the human hearts.” (NIV)

OBSERVATION #2 – MANY BELIEVERS FEEL LIKE THEIR PRAYER LIFE IS LACKING

Romans 8:26b – “...We do not know what we ought to pray for...” (NIV)

Luke 11:1 – “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’” (NIV)

OBSERVATION #3 – FRUSTRATION WITH PRAYER IS CAUSED BY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PRAYER

Several misconceptions about prayer:

1. Prayer is not a magic wand!
2. Prayer is not a genie in a bottle.
3. Prayer is not secret words or a chant or a spell.
4. Prayer is not a fire extinguisher!
5. Prayer is not bargaining with God.
6. Prayer is not a ritual to relieve guilt.

Vince Lombardi, famous football coach of the Green Packers: “Gentlemen, this is a football.”

FOUR PILLARS OF PRAYER

PRAYER PILLAR #1 – GOD WANTS US TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM THROUGH PRAYER

Three reasons you can talk to God:

1. God loves you and what is important to you is important to Him.
2. God gave you your interests – hobbies, passions, unique talents.
3. God is your father and we are his children.

Psalm 103:13 – “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear [reverence] him.” (New Living)

1 John 5:14-15 – [14] “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.” (NIV)

Two prayer truths:

1. Prayer is a conversation, not a ceremony.
2. Prayer is a relationship, not a ritual.

PRAYER PILLAR #2 – GOD LISTENS TO PRAYERS THAT ARE SINCERE AND SIMPLE

Matthew 6:5-8 [Jesus] – [5] “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [6] But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. [7] And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (NIV)

A few things about public prayer:

1. Don't use prayer to show off.
2. Keep it simple. Especially a public prayer.
3. Avoid religious clichés. (Habakkuk 3:3).
4. Longer is not better.

Hebrews 10:22a – “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” (NIV)

The two qualifications of prayer are sincerity and assurance.

PRAYER PILLAR #3 – GOD LIKES TO ANSWER PRAYER

Matthew 7:11 – “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (New Living)

Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you. I will show you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” (Message)

Read the lyrics to Garth Brooks’ song, Unanswered Prayers.

PRAYER PILLAR #4 – GOD LONGS TO BE CLOSE TO ME

Isaiah 30:18 – “The Lord still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them.” (New Living)

Hosea 6:6 – “I don't want your sacrifices--I want your love; I don't want your offerings--I want you to know me.” (Living)

Psalm 25:14 – “Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.” (New Living)

How do I get closer to the Lord?

1. Desire it
2. Make time for it.

Prayer:

Father, We pray a simple and sincere prayer. We want to know You better and love You more. We ask You to take these words and touch our hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.

01/30/2025

Join us Sunday morning at 10:00AM for the lesson below. You'll be blessed!
DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL MATURITY: IT’S NOT AUTOMATIC!

Ephesians 4:14 – “We are not meant to remain as children at the mercy of every chance wind of teaching . . . Instead we are meant to hold firmly to the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Christ . . .” (Phillips)

Bruce’s Basis Definition of Christian Maturity: Growing toward Christlikeness in my attitude and actions on a daily basis. Christian maturity is demonstrated through the ongoing practice and development of the nine manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit presented in Galatians 5:22-23: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These nine elements form a picture of Christ’s character.

SIX LAWS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

FIRST LAW OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH – WE GROW SPIRITUALLY WHEN WE FEED ON GOD’S WORD

Matthew 4:4 – “But Jesus told him [Satan], ‘No! The Scriptures say, 'People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.'” (New Living)

Acts 20:32 – “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are his people.” (NIV & Good News)

SECOND LAW OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH – WE GROW SPIRITUALLY WHEN WE LEARN IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Luke 3:18 – “In many different ways John preached the Good News to the people and urged them to change their ways.” (Good News)

Job 33:14 & 19 [Elihu] – [14] “God speaks in different ways... [19] he corrects us by sending sickness and filling our bodies with pain.” (Contemporary English Version)

THIRD LAW OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH – WE GROW SPIRITUALLY WHEN WE
DEVELOP SPIRITUAL HABITS

Jesus washed His disciples feet as an example of humble service and said:

John 13:17 – “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (NIV)

Hebrews 5:14 – “Solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.” (God’s Word Translation)

A couple of things about training our minds on the solid food of God’s Word:

[1] We are living in a culture where everything, including religion, is relative and based on how one feels.

[2] Christian maturity is achieved only through discipline.

1 Corinthians 9:25 – “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (NIV)

FOURTH LAW OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH – WE GROW SPIRITUALLY WHEN WE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO GROW

A part of spiritual maturity is relational:

Romans 1:12 – “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you.” (New Century)

1 Corinthians 12:21 – “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don't need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don't need you!’” (NIV)

Hebrews 10:24-25a – [24] “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. [25a] Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more...” (Good News)

FIFTH LAW OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH – WE GROW SPIRITUALLY WHEN WE EXPECT TO GROW

Matthew 9:28b-29 [Jesus speaking to two blind men] – [28b] “‘Do you believe I am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,” they replied. [29] Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you.’” (NIV)

SIXTH LAW OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH – WE GROW SPIRITUALLY WHEN WE COMMIT TO GROW

Jeremiah 29:13 [God speaking to His people in captivity] – “You'll find me when you get serious about finding me, and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” (Message)

2 Corinthians 13:9b – “Our greatest wish and prayer is that you will become mature Christians.” (Living)

Prayer:

Father, I’ve had many different life experiences but I believe my best spiritual days are ahead of me. I commit to moving myself to a deeper level of maturity and spiritual growth. I don't want to waste my life or miss out on what You have for me to accomplish physically and spiritually.

I pray that as I build these habits, I will become Your true man and woman in a world that is filled with unstable and uncommitted people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

01/23/2025

Join us this Sunday, January 26 for the final part of the series on Making a Fresh Start. FREE donuts and coffee from 8:30-9AM followed by classes from 9:00-9:45AM and Worship at 10:00AM. Come as you are. You are welcome here!

LASTING POSITIVE: HOW DOES IT HAPPEN?
Part 3 of 3

We’re going to consider two questions: First, Why are some things in me hard to change? Second, what does it take to change according to the Bible?

WHY IS MAKING CHANGES IN ME SO TOUGH?
Why do I hold on to self-defeating habits?


1. BECAUSE I’VE HAD THESE HABITS FOR SO LONG

2. BECAUSE I IDENTIFY WITH MY HABITS

3. BECAUSE MY PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR HAVE A PAYOFF

4. BECAUSE SATAN DISCOURAGES ME FROM CHANGING

Ephesians 4:21-27 – [21] “Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, [22] THROW OFF your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. [23] Instead, THERE MUST BE a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. [24] YOU MUST DISPLAY a new nature [making a fresh start] because you are a new person, created in God's likeness—righteous, holy, and true. [25] So PUT AWAY all falsehood [that’s the lies you tell yourself] and ‘tell your neighbor the truth’ because we belong to each other. [26] And ‘DON'T SIN by letting anger gain control over you.’ DON'T LET the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.” (New Living)

FOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR LASTING, PERSONAL CHANGE

1. CHANGE REQUIRES LEARNING AND ACTING ON TRUTH

Proverbs 23:23a – “Learn the truth and never reject it.” (New Century)

Isaiah 30:10 – “People say to God’s messenger, ‘Don't tell us the truth! Just say things that will make us feel good, and things we want to hear. Let us keep our illusions.’” (New Century & Good News)

John 3:11 [Jesus] – “Listen carefully. I'm speaking sober truth to you. ...Yet instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions.” (Message)

Here’s what we need to remember: Behind every self-defeating behavior is a lie I’m believing. The most loving thing you can do for yourself is face the truth about yourself.

2 Timothy 3:16 –“All Scripture is inspired by God and is [1] useful to teach us what is true and [2] to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. [3] It straightens us out and [4] teaches us to do what is right.” (New Living)

The Bible does four things to promote positive change:

[1] Teaches me what is true.
[2] Makes me realize what is wrong in my life.
[3] Straightens me out.
[4] Teaches me what is right so I can improve myself.

To put it another way, the Bible: [1] Shows us the moral path we are to walk on; [2] shows us when we get off the moral path; [3] shows us how to get back on the moral path; [4] shows us how to stay on the moral path.

2. LASTING CHANGE REQUIRES NEW THINKING

Ephesians 4:23 – “There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.” (New Living)

Philippians 2:5 – “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

3. LASTING CHANGE REQUIRES CONTINUAL COACHING

What does a coach do? Maximizes your strengths and minimizes your weaknesses. Great leaders of the Bible had coaches: Joshua had Moses; Elisha had Elijah; Solomon had his father David; the 12 Apostles had Jesus and Timothy had Paul.

2 Timothy 2:2 [Paul to Timothy] – “You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.” (New Living)

Ephesians 4 says God has given us four coaches in the church (Apostles, prophets, evangelists and “teaching pastors”).

Ephesians 4:11-13 – [11] “Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers [teaching pastors, Bruce], [12] so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. [13] This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.” (CEV)

The three underlined phrases are the three reasons we’ve been given these four coaches in the church – [1] So that we will learn to serve; [2] We will grow strong; [3] and we will be mature.

4. LASTING CHANGE REQUIRES THE HOLY SPIRIT

Zechariah 4:6 [Building the second temple] – “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘You will not succeed by your own strength or power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT,’ says the Lord All-Powerful.” (New Century)

2 Corinthians 3:18b – “...as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.” (Living)

Prayer:

Father, I’m not perfect, I struggle with habits, weaknesses, character flaws and self-defeating behavior. Give me the courage to take the four steps to personal transformation.

Help me learn to face the truth by spending some time every day in Your Word. I want a new way of thinking about my life, about You, about the present and about the future. I know I can’t make significant changes without yielding to Your Holy Spirit.

Whatever changes are needed in my life, I’m open to Your words through Zechariah, “Not by my own strength or power but by Your Spirit.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

01/16/2025

SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION STARTS IN THE MIND
Part 2 of 3

Change starts in the mind. Nothing changes UNTIL you decide to change. One area that separates us from the animals is our ability to make moral choices. The secret to meaningful change is in what we choose to think about and allow in our minds.
Romans 12:2a – “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (New Living)

THREE REASONS MAKING A FRESH START BEGINS WITH CHANGING MY MINDSET

1. BECAUSE MY THOUGHTS DIRECT MY LIFE
Proverbs 4:23 – “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (Good News)
Making a fresh start or developing a positive habit begins in the mind. “As we think in the heart, so we are” (Proverbs 23:7).

2. BECAUSE MY STRUGGLES HAPPEN IN MY MIND
James 4:1 – “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV)
Romans 7:22-23 – [22] “I love God's law with all my heart. [23] But there is another law at work within me that is AT WAR WITH MY MIND. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.” (New Living)

3. BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN MY MIND
Romans 8:6 – “If our thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if our thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace.” (New Century)

THREE DAILY CHOICES FOR MAKING A FRESH START

1. EVERY DAY I CHOOSE TO FEED MY MIND WITH THE BEST THOUGHTS

Philippians 4:8 – “Dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (New Living)
A few verses to consider and several questions to think about:
Proverbs 15:14 – “A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash.” (New Living)

Question: Am I being wise or foolish with what I allow in my mind?
Matthew 4:4b [Jesus] – “People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.” (New Living)

Question: Am I feeding my soul every day with God’s Word?
Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” (NIV)
1 John 2:17 – “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (NIV)

Question: Do I balance temporary news with the eternal news of God’s Word?
John 8:31-32 [Jesus] – [31] “If you continue to obey my teaching, you are truly my followers. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (New Century)

Question #1: Would Jesus say I am His disciple?

Question #2 – Do I feel mostly free or mostly frustrated as a believer?
We need the attitude and habit of David:
Psalm 119:97 – “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (NIV)
Psalm 119:147 – “I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.” (New Living)

2. EVERY DAY I CHOOSE TO FREE MY MIND FROM DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS
Romans 8:5 – “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” (New Living)
We fight three enemies:
[1] My old nature.
Romans 7:15 – “I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.” (New Living)

[2] Satan.
2 Corinthians 2:10a-11 – [10a] “When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. ... [11] so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes.” (New Living)

[3] The world’s values.
1 John 2:16 – “Everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world.” (NIV)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – [3] “Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. [4] The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. Our weapons have divine power to demolish strongholds. [5] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we

TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST.” (NIV)
3. EVERY DAY I CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST

Three things:

[1] Think about Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:8a – “Keep your mind on Jesus Christ!” (Contemporary English Version)

[2] Think about other people.
Philippians 2:4 – “Don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.” (Living)

[3] Think about eternity.
Colossians 3:2 – “Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.” (New Living)

Prayer:
Father, I realize thoughts direct my life and struggles happen in my mind. And I realize my mind is also where the Holy Spirit works to change me. I want to choose to feed my mind with good thoughts, free my mind from destructive thoughts and focus on what matters most. Fill me with Your presence, Your love, Your grace and Your mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.